TWO alcoholics who “bullied and intimidated” a drinking partner into handing over cash were jailed.

Judge Brian Lewis put both Robert Case, 46, and John Muat, 40, behind bars for 18 months each for their “five-day course of conduct” in which they targeted vulnerable Gary Murphy.

He said: “You made the life of Gary Murphy a complete misery, such that he was frightened to leave his flat.”

Kim Egerton, prosecuting, told how the pair targeted Mr Murphy on July 19 and 20, forcing him to hand over £30 and then £70.

When they returned on July 24 for more money, and Mr Murphy refused to let them in, they kicked his door in until police arrived.

The court heard Case, of City Road, Everton, had only been released from a previous robbery sentence weeks before the incident. Michael Scholes, defending Muat, formerly of Redcar Street, told how he had been plagued by his drug addiction, but now wanted to make a fresh start out of the Anfield area with his poorly dad, following the death of his mum. They admitted theft and criminal damage.